Feed guide for platen presses



March 6, 1934. G. 5. SCHIERHOLZ 1,949,944

FEEQD GUIDE FOR PLATEN PRESSES Filed June 22. 1932 AlIlIlll l 1 IN VENTOR. 650/265 6. SCH/EEHOLZ ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 6, 1934 w UNITED STATES ?ATENT QFFICE 1,949,944 FEED GUIDEFOR PLATEN PRESSES George G. Sohierholz, El Cajon, Calif. ApplicationJune 22, 1932, Serial No. 618,743 12 Claims. (01. 101-415) Thisinvention relates to and has for a purwhich is adapted to be struck bythe sheets being pose the provision of a feed guide structurally fed, soas to limit the movement of and properly characterized in a mann r toenable it to be position the sheets on the platen. rigidly secured tothe top or draw sheet of a From the upper edge of the projection 12explaten packing against any and all displacetends an arm 14 whichoverlies the plate in ments by the action of sheets or cards of anyspaced parallel relation thereto and is rigidly weight dropping againstthe gaging or stop surconnected intermediate its ends to the plate byface of the guide as the sheets are being fed, to a rivet 15. The freeextremity of the arm termithe end of promoting accurate register of thenates at a location substantially central of the 10 sheets andpreventing spoiling of the work as plate, and the arm functions as anabutment 66 a result of shifting of the guide from its adjusted in amanner to be later described. position, all while preventing any dragupon, or The opposite end portions of the plate 10 are resistance to,the movement of the sheets as they provided with flat gripping surfaces16-16 which strike and slide across the gaging surface. may if desiredbe roughened in any suitable man- It is a further purpose of thisinvention to proner. The plate 10 is further provided with spaced vide afeed guide which is readily applied to the openings 17 and 18, (Figure7), and the material draw sheet and is easily adjusted and clamped ofthe plate is downstruck and upstruck at 19 and rigidly in a fixedposition on the draw sheet 20, respectively, to receive and guide aspring against displacement under the most severe sertongue 21 which ispassed through these openings 0 vice conditions, all while affording thedesirable and also through an opening 22 (Figure 7) in the qualities ofstructural simplicity, compactness projection 12 to extend in advance ofthe gaging and inexpensiveness of manufacture. surface 13 for thepurpose of confining a sheet Only one form of the invention will bedeagainst upward displacement from the gaging scribed, following whichthe novel features theresurface upon striking the latter.

25 of will be pointed out in claims. The opposite ends of the projection12 are ex- In the accompanying drawing, tended and bent at a right anglethereto so as to Figure l is a view showing in plan one form 01 providetabs 23-23 having semi-circular notches feed guide embodying thisinvention, secured to 24 loosely receiving trunnions 25-25 on one edge adraw sheet; of the upper plate 11 projecting into a recess 26 30 Figure2 is a view similar to Figure l and illusin the latter which is ofsufiicient size to freely 86 trating the manner in which the feed guideis receive the arm 14 of the plate 10 when the plates to be applied tothe draw sheet; are moved to closed position. It will be clear thatFigure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the tabs 23-23 formbearings and co-aet with the line 3-3 of Figure 1, with the feed guidein the trunnions to hingedly connect the plates 10 5 closed position andclamped to the draw sheet; and 11 While permitting a relative lateral orver- 90 Figure 4 is a view sirnilar to Figure 3, but showtical movementof the plates as a result of the ing the feed guide in open position;vertical play of the trunnions in the notches 24. Figure 5 is a verticalsectional view taken on The end portions or" the upper plate 11 are prothe line 5-5 of Figure l, with the feed guide in vided with flatgripping surfaces 27-27 (Figure 40 closed position and clamped to thedraw sheet; 8) which may be roughened in the manner of the Figure 6 is aView similar to Figure 5 but illusgripping surfaces 16-16, and confrontthe latter tratin a position of the feed guide prior to clampwhen theplates are closed, for co-action in ing same to the draw sheet; clampingportions of the draw sheet in a manner Figures '7 and 8 are perspectiveviews, respecto be later described. It is to be noted that those 5tively illustrating upper and lower clamping eleportions of the plate 11forming the gripping surments embodied in the feed guide. faces 27 areoppositely inclined slightly from Referring specifically to the drawing,wherein their point of joinder with the plate to the free similarreference characters designate similar edges of the latter for flexingto a position parallel parts in each of the several views, inventionwith the gripping surfaces 16 when the plates 50 in its presentembodiment comprises a pair of are clamped in closed position, all forthe purclamping elements in the form of metal plates pose of effecting auniform distribution of clamp- 10 and 11 of substantially rectangularoutline. ing pressure over the areas of the co-acting grip- The lowerplate 10 is bent along one edge to proping surfaces, as will be latermore fully described. vide a lateral projection 12 which in the use ofIn order to rigidly clamp the guide to the draw the guide defines anupright gaging surface 13 sheet and secure the plates 10 and 11 inclosed air position, a cam 28 in the form of a metal dish having asegment of its periphery cut away at 29 and a handle 30 projectingradially therefrom is rotatably mounted on the plate 11 by means of arivet 31. The location of the cam on the plate 11 is such that with thecam occupying the released position shown in broken lines in Figure lthe cut away portion 29 of the cam will be directly opposite the freeend of the arm 14 and will clear the latter so as to enable the upperplate 11 to be swung to open and closed positions with respect to thelower plate. The top surface of the cam is inclined circumferentiallyfrom a higlr.

level at the points 3232 (Figure l) to substantially a feather edge atthe center of the cut away portion 29 so as to provide arcuate wedges33-33, one or the other of which co-acts withthe arm 14 in forcing theplates together and securing them in closed position to rigidly securethe guide to the draw sheet.

In the use of the feed guide as above described, the draw sheet 34 onwhich is indicated a line 35 to which it is desired to feed the sheetsis slit in=twoplacesat-the intended location for the feed guide. Theseslits are shown at 3636 in Figures land 2 and at a right angle to thefeed line with. one endlof the slits extending a short distance acrossthe feed line. The slits are spaced apart a distance approximately equalto the spacing apart of the gripping surfaces 16-16 and 27-27, and areof such length that with the plates occupying open-position, the lowerplate 10 can'be inserted obliquely through one slit asshown in FigureZand then inserted into the other slit, so that-withthe guide centeredwith respect to the slits; the central portion of the plate 10 willoverliethe portionof the draw sheet between the slits, whereas theendportions of the plate hav-' ing the gripping surfaces l616 willunderlie portions of' the draw sheet at the outer sides of the slits:

The feed guide is-now adjusted longitudinally of the slit untilthegaging surface 131s in alinement with the feed'line 35, following whichthe upper -plate'11 is swung to c10sed'position,wherein its grippingsurfaces 2'727 will overlie the aforementionedportions of the draw sheetat the outer sides of the slits. The cam 28 is now rotated to co-actwith the arm 14 in exerting a clamping force at'a substantially centrallocation relative to'thepl'ates, to cause the grippingsurfaces to coactin clamping the interposedportionsofthe draw sheet; Itis to be notedthat due to the inclination of the outer end portions of the plate 11,

= as-shown in Figure 6, that the outer edges of the grippingsurfaces27-27 will be the first to strike the underlying portion ofthe drawsheet at the poirr's'indicated at aa in this figure, and that as theclamping force is applied to the plates, the outer 'end 'portions of theplate 11 will'be caused to flex until the gripping surfaces 2'7-2'7' areparallelto'the gripping surfaces 16-16, so that all gripping surfacesbear flatwise and with uniform pressure against the interposed portionsof the draw sheet. Bythis construction, the formation of fulcrums'at thepoints b-h in Figure 6, with theattendant failure of obtaining maximumclamping action, is avoided, the clamping pressure created at thecentral location on the plates being distributed uniformly over theareas of the gripping surfaces. The corners of the'plates can be curvedvery slightly towards the sides of the plates having. the grippingsurfaces, so as to further aid in insuringa perfect clamping action assuch slightly curved'corners will be caused to flatten out as theclamping force is applied by the cam.

As the gaging surface 13 extends from the underside of the lower plate10, and thus in effect extends below the surface of the draw sheet,there is no possibility of a sheet or card as fed to the guide slippingunder the lower plate or dragging at the end of the gaging surface. Itwill thus be manifest that the gaging surface offers no obstruction-toaccurate feeding, and that in view of the large gripping surfaces andthe manner in which they are related to the draw sheet as well as themanner in which clamping pressure is applied-to the gripping surfaces,that the guide willbe rigidly secured in its adjusted position againstdisplacement in service, all while enabling the guide to be readilyre-adjusted and removed as desired.

What is claimed is:

1. In a printing press, a draw sheet having two spaced apart slitssubstantially in parallelism; a feed guide comprising two' clampingelements: one of which isinsertedthrough the slits to overlie theportionof the. draw sheet between the slits andto underlieiportions of the drawsheet atthe'outer-sides of the slits; the other clamping elementoverlying the last mentioned' portions of the draw sheet; means defininga gaging surface on the guide; and'means for securingthe elements inclamping engagement with the last mentioned portions of the draw sheetsons to fixedly secure the guide to the draw sheet.

2; In a printing press, a draw sheet'havingtwo spaced-apart slitssubstantially in'parallelism; a feed guide comprising two clampingelements having gripping surfaces; one of the elements being insertedthrough the slits to overlie the portion-of the draw sheet between theslits, with the gripping surfaces of such element underlying'por tionsof the-draw sheet'at opposite sides of the slits; the other clampingelement having its gripping surfaces overlying the last mentionedportions of the draw sheet; means defining a gaging surface on theguide; securing means for exerting a clamping-force upon said'elementsat a substantially central location thereof; and means whereby theclamping force is causedto be distributed uniformly over the areas ofthe gripping surfaces of the elements so as'to fixedlysecurethe guide tothe draw sheet.

3. A feed guide for platen presses comprising a; pair of clampingelements each of which is provided with spaced apart gripping surfaces;securing means for exerting a clamping force upon the elements at asingle and-substantially cen-- trol location between the grippingsurfaces; means by which the clamping force is caused'to be distributeduniformly over the areas of the gripping surfaces; and means defining'agaging surface on one of said elements.

4. A feed guide for platen presses comprising a pair of clampingelements each of which is provided with spaced apart gripping surfaces;an abutment on one of the clamping elements;- a cam on the otherclamping element co-acting with the abutment to exert a clamping forceupon the elements at a single and substantially central location betweenthe elements; and means whereby the clamping force is caused to bedistributed uniformly over the areas of the gripping surfaces.

5. A feed guide for platen presses comprising two clamping plates'havinggripping surfaces at ably' connecting the plates to occupy an openposition and a closed position wherein the gripping surfaces of oneplate confront the gripping surfaces of the other plate; means forclamping the plates in closed position by exerting a force upon theplates at a location intermediate the gripping surfaces thereof; andmeans for effecting a uniform distribution of clamping pressure over theareas of the gripping surfaces.

6. A feed guide for platen presses comprising two clamping plates havinggripping surfaces at opposite end portions thereof; means for movablyconnecting the plates to occupy an open position and a closed positionwherein the gripping surfaces of one plate confront the grippingsurfaces of the other plate; means for clamping the plates in closedposition by exerting a force upon the plates at a location intermediatethe gripping surfaces thereof; one of the plates having its grippingsurfaces inclined for flexing to a position parallel with the grippingsurfaces of the other plate to insure uniform distribution of clampingpressure over the areas of the gripping surfaces.

'7. A feed guide for platen presses comprising a lower clamping platehaving spaced apart gripping surfaces and a laterally projecting gagingsurface along an edge thereof and intermediate the gripping surfaces; anupper clamping plate hingedly connected to the lower clamping plate andhaving spaced apart gripping surfaces adapted to confront the grippingsurfaces of the lower plate; and means intermediate the grippingsurfaces of the plates by which the plates can be forced towards eachother and retained in closed position to clamp portions of a draw sheetbetween the plates.

8. A feed guide for platen presses comprising a lower clamping platehaving spaced apart gripping surfaces and a laterally projecting gagingsurface along an edge thereof and intermediate the gripping surfaces;and upper clamping plate hingedly connected to the lower clamping plateand having spaced apart gripping surfaces adapted to confront thegripping surfaces of the lower plate; an abutment on the lower plateintermediate its gripping surfaces; and a cam on the upper plate adaptedfor co-action with the abutment at a substantially central locationbetween the gripping surfaces of the plates in forcing the platestogether and retaining them in closed position.

9. A feed guide for platen presses comprising a lower clamping platehaving spaced apart gripping surfaces and a laterally projecting gagingsurface along an edge thereof and intermediate the gripping surfaces; anupper clamping plate hingedly connected to the lower clamping plate andhaving spaced apart gripping surfaces adapted to confront the grippingsurfaces of the lower plate; an arm overlying the lower plate in spacedrelation thereto and constituting an abut ment; and a cam rotatablymounted on the upper plate for engagement with the abutment to coacttherewith in forcing the plates towards each other and retaining them inclosed position.

10. A feed guide for platen presses comprising a lower clamping platehaving spaced apart gripping surfaces and a laterally projecting gagingsurface along an edge thereof and intermediate the gripping surfaces; anupper clamping plate hingedly connected to the lower clamping plate andhaving spaced apart gripping surfaces adapted to confront the grippingsurfaces of the lower plate; and means by which the plates can be forcedtoward each other and retained in closed position to clamp portions of adraw sheet between the plates, the upper plate having its grippingsurfaces inclined in a manner to be flexed to a position parallel withthe gripping surfaces of the lower plate when the plates are clampedtogether.

11. A feed guide for platen presses comprising two clamping elements oneof which is adapted to be inserted through spaced apart slits in a drawsheet to underlie portions of the draw sheet at the outer sides of theslits, and the other of which is adapted to confront said one of theclamping elements and to overlie the draw sheet at said outer portionsof the slits; means by which said elements are adapted to be secured inclamping engagement with the portions of the draw sheet at the outersides of the slits; and means defining a gaging surface on the guide.

12. In a printing press, a draw sheet having spaced apart andsubstantially parallel slits; a clamping member underlying portions ofthe draw sheet at opposite sides of the slits; a second clamping memberoverlying said portions of the draw sheet; means for securing saidmembers in clamping engagement with the aforementioned portions of thedraw sheet; and means defining a gaging surface on the guide.

GEORGE G. SCI-IIERHOLZ.

